Printing chase



'Apfil 21,1953 J. FERGUSON, JR ,6

PRINTING CHASE Filed March 18, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 NVENTOR. Q? M Mm Ap 1, 1953 J. L. FERGUSON, JR 2,635,541

PRINTING CHASE Filed March 18, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 l illllhll l' lm a/wnl l M 11 I I v 25 2; Z )4 i d INVENTOR.

I J/Z, wfizwzz% Patented Apr. 21, 1953 PRINTING CHASE John Lee Ferguson, Jr., Joliet, Ill., assignor to Printing Equipment Corporation, Joliet, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application March 18, 1949, Serial No. 82,250

5 Claims. 101-394) This invention relates to improvements in printers chases, an object being to provide a chase that will embody safety, present a neat appearance, and be easy and efficient in operation. Further objects of the invention are, severally, to provide improved means in connection with the footbar or rail of the chase frame for operating the side-lock bar of the frame, for operating the foot stick thereof, for operating both the side and foot-stick bars, and for operating either or both by means which do not project objectionably beyond the outer edge of said rail.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the detailed description and claims to follow, in connection with the ac& companying drawings which illustrate, by way of example and not of limitation, an embodiment thereof and in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a chase embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, parts adjacent the side backing bar operating screw being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a foot end view of the chase frame of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the frame on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 of the foot bar of the frame and associated foot stick;

' Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3, through one of the foot-stick locking screw mechanisms in the foot bar of the chase frame; and

Fig. 7 is a detail view in the nature of an exploded view shOwing in perspective the end of the side bar of the frame, the end of the longitudinally moving side locking bar, and the looking screw, which co-operate in the-locking of the side bar.

As here indicated, the metal chase frame comprises the head bar H, the foot bar l2 and the side bars l3 and M, which may be of the usual construction except as hereinafter noted. A foot stick IS in the chase frame is adaptedto abut the end of the form to be locked within the frame, the same being pressed against the end of the form by a plurality of pressure screw devices IS in the foot bar l2 of the chase frame, as later described. Along .the side of the form within the frame is a lockin bar mechanism comprising a form-locking bar l1 extending from the head bar to the foot bar of the frame and adapted to be moved laterally against the form to press and lock it firmly in position within the frame. This locking bar I! is so moved laterally by a longitudinally movable lock bar l8 in sideby-side relationship to bar I! and lying against and slidable longitudinally along the inner face of the side frame member l3, the bar |8 having on its opposite face or edge a plurality of inclined cam surfaces I9 engaging like cam surfaces 20 formed on the rear or outer edge of the locking bar IT. The downward longitudinal movement of the bar l8, through the cam or wedge-like engagement of cams I9 with cams 20, moves the locking bar I! laterally against the form in the chase frame and looks it in position. The upward or reverse movement of the bar l8 unlocks the bar I! and permits it to move laterally outward to the limit of its movement.

The bar I8 is moved longitudinally by a screw bolt 2|, Figs. 2 and '7, which is journalled in the foot member l2 of the frame and in line with the meeting edge faces of the bar l8 and the side frame member l3 of the chase. The end of side frame I3 is provided with a semicircular groove 22, not threaded, to fittingly receive the end of screw bolt 2|, and the end of the locking bar i8 is provided with a similar groove 23 which is threaded to engage and co-operate with the threaded end 24 of the screw bolt 2|. A suitable thrust washer 25 is placed under the head of the screw bolt 2| and a similar thrust washer 26 is placed onthe bolt 2| on the inside face of the foot member 2 of the frame, and is backed up or held in place thereon by a suitable split retaining ring or rings 2! which are applied in the usual way in the annular groove 28 of the bolt 2|. The outer or head end of the bolt 2| is preferably circular and is provided with a hexagonal or irregular-shaped socket 29 to receive a correspondingly formed key or wrench with which to turn the said bolt.

As thus constructed, the rotation of the screw bolt 2| in one direction draws the cam bar 8 downwardly to move the lock bar I! laterally into form-locking position and securely locks it. It may be unlocked by the reverse rotation of the screw bolt. During this time, and in fact at all times, the screw bolt retains its position in the foot bar of the frame and projects through the outside of the same only to the-extent of the head. The screw remains in the frame and does not become mislaid or lost. It holds the end of the cam bar in alignment and preventsits lifting. In assembly it is merely necessary to place the cam bar in position with its .end over the screw and the lock bar in position against it. The pressure of the lock bar 1 holds the cam bar l8 against the side bar of the frame with its end 3 over and in engagement with the threaded end of the screw 2 I.

The pressure screws It in the foot bar l2 of the chase frame for setting up the foot stick l against the form, like the side bar locking screw, project at all times from the outer edge of the bar only to the depth of the head or nut 36, Figs. 5 and 6, while the opposite pressure end 3| of this screw mechanism is projected more or less against the foot stick l5 by the turning of the nut 30. Thus, as indicated in Fig. 6, the nut 39, which is preferably circular, is provided with a hexagonal socket 32, like that of the screw 2|, whereby the same may be rotated by a suitable key wrench. This nut or head 39 is rigidly secured to an internally threaded sleeve 33, as by brazing, as indicated, or otherwise, which is rotatable in a suitable aperture through the foot bar i2. A thrust washer 34 is located on the opposite end of the sleeve 33 at the bottom of an enlargement or counterbore 35 of the aperture for the sleeve or barrel 33, and this is held on the sleeve by a split retaining ring 35 of the usual or desired type located in a suitable circumferential groove in the sleeve 33. By this construction and arrangement the sleeve or shaft of the pressure screw, while rotatable in the bar, is held against thrusts longitudinally thereof by the head and the washer 34.

The foot-stick pressure end 3| of this screw, before alluded to, extends into the sleeve member 33 and is provided with a threaded end 31 adapted to 'operatively engage the internal threads of sleeve 33 whereby said end 3| is projected outwardly from or withdrawn toward and into the a bar l2. To prevent the rotation of the end 3| it is made noncircular in section, preferabl hexagon'al, and passes through a washer 38 having a correspondingly shaped aperture therefor, or at least an aperture having straight peripheral sections or chords engaging flat sides of the end 3| to prevent the rotation thereof when being passed through the washer 38. The washer itself may be prevented from rotation by providing its circular outer periphery with serrations, as indicated at 39, Fig. 6, and forcing the washer into the counterbore as indicated or in any desired manner. The threads 31 on the pressure stem 31 and the internal threads in the sleeve 35 are preferably'stub threads, so called, in the nature of square threads.

It is thus apparent that the foot stick may be pressed against the form and to the desired extent by merely rotating the bolt heads 30 of the two pressure bolts It, the rotation of the sleeves 33' thereby in the bar |2 causing the threaded ends 37 of the pressure members 3| of the screw bolts to travel toward the open end of the sleeves and press at their free ends against the foot stick l5. When desired to release such pressure on the foot stick, the reverse operation of the heads 30 of the bolts withdraws the pressure ends 3| and relieves the foot stick. The pressure screw bolts l6 are thus permanently self-contained within the foot bar of the chase frame and the heads 30 do not project variable distances therefrom but only to the depth of the heads. The latter is true also of the side lock bar screw 2|, so that the chase has its side and foot-stick locking and pressure-screw operating means permanently located in the foot bar of the frame and with no outside protruding parts at any time other than the said heads and to their depth only, and which is uniform for all.

As thus constructed, the highest quality of alloy steel may be used in the chase. The chase frame may be arc-welded to provide superior strength, accuracy, appearance, and performance. The frame sizes are correctly proportioned to give the user maximum efficiency and adaptability. The chase frames may be and preferably are ground to accurate thickness dimension throughout their entire frame area-a feature not present in the usual chase.

The form-locking bars, due to their simplified form and construction, including their co-operating inclined cam surfaces, may be and preferably are precision-ground, which in addition to their other features, such as locking the forms firmly and accurately, provides ease of locking and unlocking of forms. Moreover, the locking bars, due to their formand construction, will retain their inherent accuracy. They fit the frame precisely, yet allow for easy manual manipulation.

The foot sticks may be and preferably are precision-ground, and although firml retaining their stability and rigidity are easily and conveniently handled.

The draw screw and foot-stick screws, preferably of alloy steel, are made to precise dimensions. Each and every screw is like the others so far as concerns their heads and the projection of their heads from the outer edge of the foot rail of the chase frame, and not variable, as in the usual equipment. The screw heads are provided with sockets to allow easy entrance of a suitable wrench and to retain the wrench securely there in during use.

It will be apparent that the invention may be varied in its physical embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is desired, therefore, that the invention be limited only by the prior art and the scope of the appended claims;

I claim:

1. In a printer's chase, a frame, a form lock-up mechanism including two side-by-side bars within and along one side of the frame, inclined cams between said bars to effect a lateral locking movement of the inside bar by the longitudinal movement of the other bar between the side of the frame and said inside bar, and a locking screw bolt journaled and substantially immovably supported longitudinally in the frame with its operating head available from the outside and its threaded end projecting into the frame adjacent the end of said longitudinal moving bar, the said bar having an internally threaded side groove opening toward the said screw, said bar being placeable in the frame with its groove over the said screw and its threads engaging the threads of the screw in any adjusted position of the bar and the bar being movable longitudinally for locking and interlocking purposes by the turning of the said screw by the head.

2. In a printers chase, a frame, a form lock-up mechanism within the frame comprising two side-by-side bars having a wedging engagement between them, one of the bars lying against the inside face of one side of the frame and having a longitudinal movement therealong and the other bar having a lateral locking movement in the frame effected by the longitudinal movement of the other bar, a locking bolt journaled and end thrust supported in the side of the frame opposite the ends of said bars and having a head op: erable from the outside of the frame and a threaded end extending into the frame and axially in the plane of said inside face of the first-named side of the frame, the latter having a semicylindrical smooth-surfaced concavity of a length to receive and partially surround said eX- tended end of said bolt and the corresponding end and cooperating face of said movable bar having a similar concavity provided with internal threads to pass laterally over the exposed part Of said bolt and threadably to engage the same when the said bar is placed in adjusted position in the frame, whereby the rotation of the bolt by the said head moves the said bar longitudinally to move the other locking bar laterally to lock and said side of the frame and supported thereby,

said longitudinally movable bar having an internally threaded concavity on the side thereof adjacent said threaded end of the screw-bolt and threadably engageable therewith by a lateral movement of the bar for form locking and unlocking purposes.

4. In a printers chase, a frame, a form lockup mechanism within the frame including two laterally movable side-by-side bars along one side of the frame, interengaging inclined cams on said bars to effect a lateral locking movement of one bar by the longitudinal movement of the other bar, and a screw-bolt journaled but longitudinally immovable in the end of the frame adjacent one end of the longitudinally movable bar and having its threaded end projecting into the frame along said side and supported thereby, the said longitudinally movable bar having an internally threaded concavity on the side thereof adjacent said screw for threadably engaging said bar by a lateral movement of the bar thereagainst in any adjusted position of the bar, said bolt having an operating head accessible from the outside of the frame bar in which it is journaled, whereby the said bar may be moved longitudinally for form looking or unlocking purposes by the rotation of said bolt by the head when the bar and bolt are so threadedly engaged.

5. In a printers chase, a frame, a foot stick therein, a plurality of pressure screw means in the foot bar of the frame to press the foot stick against the form in the frame, said means comprising an internally threaded sleeve rotatably mounted in and extending edgewise through the foot bar, said sleeve having an operating head outside and overlapping the bar and bearing thereagainst, an end thrust bearing for the opposite end of the sleeve, a pressure member of non-circular cross section extending into the open end of said sleeve and having a threaded end cooperatively engaging the internal threads therein, and means to prevent rotation of said pressure member comprising a non-rotatable washer on the member secured to the inside edge of the said bar and having a non-circular aperture cooperating with the member and preventing relative rotation therebetween, whereby rotation of the sleeve causes the member to'be projected non-rotatively from or drawn into 7 the sleeve, the outer non-rotating projecting end of said pressure member engaging and pushing the foot stick against the form when the parts are tightened in position.

JOHN LEE FERGUSON, JR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

